The Harrisburg University Doctor of Physical Therapy program meets the needs of a diverse student population. The program offers innovative educational opportunities that respond to societal needs. The program fosters diverse graduates who are competent, autonomous, and contemporary-movement specialists with a foundation in evidence-informed practice and clinical reasoning. The program prepares critical thinking and reflective practitioners who provide culturally responsive patient-centric care.
*Notice of Accreditation Status:
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT’s website.
Harrisburg University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on November 1, 2024. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Program Goals
- Demonstrate the entry-level competencies to effectively implement the patient/client management model, through evidence-informed practice across the lifespan of a diverse human population;
- Apply critical thinking, reflection, ethical decision making, and communication strategies into culturally responsive professional practice, which promotes a collaborative healthcare environment that optimizes outcomes across the lifespan of a diverse human population;
- Integrate the core values of the physical therapy profession into actions that promote socially responsive, just, and equitable healthcare across the lifespan of a diverse human population; and
- Graduates will develop the lifelong learning strategies, entrepreneurial skills, and evidence-informed practices required of an autonomous doctoring professional.
